JP2012050704A - Electronic endoscope and manufacturing method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to effectively radiate the heat generated from the imaging module arranged in the distal end part of an endoscope.SOLUTION: In the electronic endoscope having a space for arranging the imaging module including an imaging element in the distal end part of the endoscope inside of the same, the inside of the metal frame 26 including the imaging module is filled with an isotropic highly thermalconductive resin, the space around the metal frame is filled with anisotropic highly thermalconductive resin 42 having higher thermal conductivity in the endoscope outer peripheral direction than in the endoscope longitudinal direction, the heat generated from the imaging module is effectively conducted to the metallic cylindrical body 30 of the endoscope outer peripheral part and is radiated from the same.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a technique for suppressing a temperature rise at the endoscope distal end.

  Conventionally, a heat conducting member made of metal or the like is disposed at the distal end portion of the endoscope, an image pickup device and a circuit board are disposed so as to transmit heat in contact with the heat conducting member, and further after the heat conducting member. The heat conductive soft body made of iron powder or the like is filled on the end side, and the heat generated by driving the imaging device is radiated to the outside air through the heat conductive member and the heat conductive soft body. An endoscope apparatus that dissipates driving heat of electronic circuit components to the outside air through a heat conductive soft body has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the illuminating unit provided at the distal end of the endoscope has a thermal conductivity in the length direction higher than that in the thickness direction and an anisotropy in the direction of thermal conduction (thermal conductive film). One end is attached, the other end of this heat conduction film is attached to the inner wall on the rear end side of the insertion part, and the heat generated in the illumination part is lower in temperature than the illumination part in the longitudinal direction of the heat conduction film, that is, There has been proposed an endoscope that transmits toward the rear end side of the insertion portion and cools by air inside the rear end side of the insertion portion where no heat source exists in the process of heat transfer (Patent Document 2).

JP-A-5-228105 JP 2009-56107 A

  In the endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the heat conductive soft body filled in the space at the distal end portion of the endoscope is made of iron powder or the like. There is no description that the body has anisotropy in the direction of heat conduction, and there is no idea that the body is composed of an anisotropic high heat conductor. Note that a heat conductive material such as an anisotropic high heat conductive resin has a higher thermal conductivity than an isotropic high heat conductive resin or the like.

  On the other hand, the heat conducting material (heat conducting film) described in Patent Document 2 has anisotropy in the direction of heat conduction, but is not filled in the space at the distal end of the endoscope, and the heat conducting film. The direction of heat conduction by the endoscope is the longitudinal direction of the endoscope from the endoscope front end side to the rear end side. That is, the heat conductive material described in Patent Document 2 does not transfer heat generated in the illumination unit to the outer peripheral portion of the endoscope distal end portion.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can efficiently dissipate heat generated from the imaging module disposed at the distal end portion of the endoscope, thereby preventing image quality deterioration and lighting / circuit elements. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope that can be augmented and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an electronic endoscope having a space in which an imaging module is installed at a distal end portion. It is characterized by being filled with an anisotropic high thermal conductive material with high thermal conductivity in the direction of the outer periphery of the endoscope.

  In general, an anisotropic high thermal conductive material has a higher thermal conductivity than an isotropic high thermal conductive material. However, this anisotropic high thermal conductive material is used in the direction of the endoscope outer peripheral portion rather than the longitudinal direction of the endoscope. Since the surrounding space of the imaging module is filled so as to increase the conductivity, the heat generated from the imaging module can be efficiently radiated to the outer periphery of the endoscope.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic endoscope according to the first aspect of the present invention, an isotropic high thermal conductive material is filled in a metal frame surrounding an image pickup device constituting the image pickup module. By filling the metal frame with an isotropic high heat conductive material, heat can be generated uniformly throughout the imaging module, and the isotropic high heat conductive material can be filled into a narrow space metal frame. is there.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic endoscope according to the second aspect, a circuit board on which an integrated circuit for driving the imaging device is mounted is accommodated in the metal frame. It is said. The integrated circuit mounted on the circuit board serves as a heat source, and heat generated from the integrated circuit can be efficiently radiated.

  4. The electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the anisotropic high thermal conductive material is an interior between the metal frame and a metal cylindrical body at an outer peripheral portion of the endoscope. The heat generated in the imaging module filled in the space is transmitted to the entire metal frame by the isotropic high heat conductive material, and the metal cylindrical body is transmitted from the metal frame through the anisotropic high heat conductive material. It is characterized by being transmitted to.

  The electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the isotropic high thermal conductive material is an isotropic high thermal conductive material having an insulating property and the anisotropy. The high thermal conductive material is characterized by being an anisotropic high thermal conductive material having electrical conductivity.

  The interior of the imaging module that cannot be electrically connected (inside the metal frame) is filled with an isotropic high thermal conductive material that has insulating properties, while ensuring insulation, while the surroundings of the imaging module (the metal frame and the metal frame) Between the cylindrical body), the metal frame and the metallic cylindrical body are electrically connected by filling an anisotropic high thermal conductive material having conductivity so that noise can be suppressed. .

  The electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the anisotropic high thermal conductive material is an anisotropic material in which a high aspect ratio shape filler is oriented in an adhesive. High thermal conductive resin, characterized in that the thermal conductivity in the orientation direction is 7 W / mK or more. As the high aspect ratio shape filler, for example, a carbon fiber having a diameter of several μm and a length of several hundred μm and an aspect ratio of 10 or more, or graphite can be applied.

The electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the isotropic high thermal conductive material is isotropic in which a low aspect ratio shape filler is randomly mixed in an adhesive. It is a high thermal conductive resin, characterized by having a thermal conductivity of 3 W / mK or less and an insulation resistance of 10 ¹² Ω · m or more. As the low aspect ratio shape filler, diamond, aluminum nitride, alumina, magnesium oxide or the like having a particle diameter of 1 to 20 μm can be applied.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the method of manufacturing an electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adhesive and the high aspect ratio shape filler are stirred by a stirring device. Generating the anisotropic high heat conductive material obtained by orienting the high aspect ratio shape filler in a certain direction, and forming the anisotropic high heat conductive material into an orientation direction of the high aspect ratio shape filler. And a filling step of filling the internal space between the imaging module and the metal cylindrical body so as to coincide with at least the in-plane direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.

  9. The method of manufacturing an electronic endoscope according to claim 8, wherein in the filling step, the generated anisotropic high thermal conductive material is placed around the imaging module in the shape of the high aspect ratio. Applying the filler so as not to break the orientation of the filler, and inserting the imaging module coated with the anisotropic high thermal conductive material into the metallic cylindrical body of the endoscope distal end. It is a feature.

  According to the present invention, the space around the imaging module installed at the distal end portion of the endoscope is filled with an anisotropic high thermal conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity in the direction of the outer periphery of the endoscope than in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope. As a result, heat generated from the imaging module can be efficiently transferred to the outer periphery of the endoscope via the anisotropic high heat conductive material, and in particular has a higher thermal conductivity than the isotropic high heat conductive material. By using the anisotropic high thermal conductive material, heat can be efficiently radiated to the outer periphery of the endoscope.

Overall configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope system including an electronic endoscope according to the present embodiment Front view showing the tip of the electronic endoscope Side sectional view showing the tip of the electronic endoscope Diagram used to explain isotropic high thermal conductive resin Diagram used to describe anisotropic high thermal conductivity resin Side cross-sectional view of the main part of the tip of the electronic endoscope used to explain the ease of heat conduction Sectional view along line 7-7 in FIG. 6 used to explain the ease of heat conduction Sectional drawing which follows the 8-8 line of the endoscope front-end | tip part of FIG. 3 used in order to demonstrate the flow of a heat | fever The figure used to explain the production method of anisotropic high thermal conductive resin Figure used to explain how to apply anisotropic high thermal conductive resin

  Embodiments of an electronic endoscope and a manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Schematic configuration example of an endoscope system including an electronic endoscope]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope system including an electronic endoscope according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 1 includes an electronic endoscope 100, a processor device 200, a light source device 300, and the like.

  The electronic endoscope 100 includes a flexible insertion portion 120 that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient (subject), an operation portion 122 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 120, a processor device 200, and a light source. And a universal cord 124 connected to the apparatus 300.

  At the distal end of the insertion portion 120, a distal end portion 126 in which an imaging module 50 (see FIG. 3) for in-vivo imaging is incorporated is connected. Behind the distal end portion 126 is provided a bending portion 128 that connects a plurality of bending pieces. The bending portion 128 is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions when the angle knob 130 provided in the operation portion 122 is operated and the wire inserted in the insertion portion 120 is pushed and pulled. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 126 is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  The base end of the universal cord 124 is connected to the connector 136. The connector 136 is of a composite type. The connector 136 is connected to the light source device 300 in addition to the processor device 200.

  The processor device 200 supplies power to the imaging module 50 through the cable 28 (see FIG. 3) inserted through the insertion unit 120 and the universal cord 124, controls the driving of the imaging module 50, and controls the cable from the imaging module 50. The image pickup signal transmitted via 28 is received, and the received image pickup signal is subjected to various signal processing and converted into image data. The image data converted by the processor device 200 is displayed as an endoscopic image on a monitor 400 connected to the processor device 200 by a cable. The processor device 200 is electrically connected to the light source device 300 via the connector 136 and controls the operation of the endoscope system 1 in an integrated manner.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the distal end portion 126 of the electronic endoscope 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the lens barrel 12, the illumination window 14, the water supply pipe 16, and the forceps pipe 18 are provided on the tip surface 126 a of the tip portion 126. Two illumination windows 14 are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the lens barrel 12 and irradiate the observation site in the body cavity with illumination light from the light source device 300. The forceps pipe 18 communicates with a forceps port 134 (see FIG. 1) provided in the operation unit 122. Various types of treatment tools having an injection needle, a high-frequency knife or the like disposed at the tip are inserted into the forceps port 134, and the tips of the various types of treatment tools are exposed from the opening of the forceps pipe 18. The water supply pipe 16 supplies cleaning water and air supplied from the air supply / water supply apparatus in response to an operation of an air supply / water supply button 132 (see FIG. 1) provided in the operation unit 122. And spray into the body cavity.

  FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the distal end portion 126 of the electronic endoscope 100. As shown in FIG. 3, an imaging module 50 including a lens barrel 12, a prism 13, an imaging device 20, a circuit board 22, and the like is disposed inside the distal end portion 126.

  The lens barrel 12 has an objective lens for capturing the image light of the site to be observed in the body cavity, and the image light of the site to be observed is bent at a substantially right angle at the rear end of the lens barrel 12. A prism 13 that guides light toward the image sensor 20 is connected.

  The image sensor 20 is a solid-state image sensor and is mounted on the circuit board 22. An integrated circuit (IC circuit) 24 for driving the image pickup device 20 to obtain an image signal is mounted on the circuit board 22. A plurality of input / output terminals are arranged on the circuit board 22 at the rear end portion of the circuit board 22, and various signals are exchanged with the processor device 200 via the cable connection portion 28 </ b> A. A cable 28 for mediating the above is joined.

  Although not shown, an illumination unit is provided in the back of the illumination window 14. The illumination unit is provided with an exit end of a light guide that guides illumination light from the light source device 300. Like the cable 28, the light guide is inserted through the insertion portion 120, the operation portion 122, and the universal cord 124, and the incident end is connected to the connector 136.

[Electronic endoscope heat dissipation structure]
Next, the heat dissipation structure of the electronic endoscope 100 according to the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end portion of the lens barrel 12, the prism 13, the imaging element 20, and the circuit board 22 constituting the imaging module 50 are surrounded by a metal frame 26. An isotropic high heat conductive material (isotropic high heat conductive resin) 40 is filled therein.

  The outer peripheral portion of the endoscope is configured by a metal cylindrical body 30 and a rubber outer shell 32 on the outer side thereof, and the imaging module 50 and the water supply pipe 16 (in the outer peripheral portion (tip portion 126) of the endoscope. 2), contents such as a forceps pipe 18, a cable 28, and a light guide (not shown) are accommodated.

  An internal space between the metal frame 26 surrounding the imaging module and the metal cylindrical body 30 on the outer periphery of the endoscope is filled with an anisotropic high heat conductive material (anisotropic high heat conductive resin) 42. ing.

Here, in the isotropic high thermal conductive resin 40 filled in the metal frame 26, as shown in FIG. 4, low aspect ratio shape fillers are randomly blended in the resin (adhesive), and the thermal conductivity is 3W. / MK or less and an insulation resistance of 10 ¹² Ω · m or more.

  The filler shape of the low aspect ratio shape filler is a low aspect ratio shape of spherical and polygonal particles, and the filler size is several tens of μm or less. Examples of materials include diamond, aluminum nitride, alumina, magnesium oxide and the like.

  The isotropic high thermal conductive resin 40 has no difference in the ease of heat transfer depending on the direction, and the heat generated from the imaging device 20 and the IC circuit 24 is distributed to the entire imaging module 50 (the entire inside of the metal frame 26). Heat the entire module. The inside of the module that cannot be electrically connected is secured by the isotropic high thermal conductive resin 40 having a large insulation resistance as described above.

  On the other hand, the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 filled in the internal space between the metal frame 26 and the metal cylindrical body 30 has a constant high aspect ratio shape filler in the resin (adhesive) as shown in FIG. It is blended by being oriented in the direction, and the thermal conductivity in the orientation direction is 7 W / mK or more. The anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 has conductivity.

  The filler shape of the high aspect ratio shape filler is a high aspect ratio shape of fiber (fiber) shape, scale shape, and disk shape, and the filler size is several hundred μm to several tens μm in length. Examples of materials include carbon fiber and graphite. In the case of carbon fiber, a fiber shape having a diameter of several μm, a length of several hundred μm, and an aspect ratio of 10 or more is preferable.

  The anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 has a difference in heat transferability depending on the direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the orientation direction of the high aspect ratio shape filler is easy to conduct heat, and is a direction orthogonal to the light distribution direction. Is difficult to conduct heat.

  And this anisotropic high heat conductive resin 42 is oriented to a high aspect ratio shape filler so that it becomes easier to conduct heat in the outer peripheral part of the endoscope than in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope as shown in FIGS. Filled in consideration of direction. Specifically, the high aspect ratio shape filler is aligned so that the orientation direction of the high aspect ratio shape filler coincides with the in-plane direction (preferably, from the center to the outer peripheral direction). The filler is filled in consideration of the orientation direction of the filler. In other words, the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 is filled so that the orientation direction of the high aspect ratio shape filler does not become the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of the endoscope front end portion shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the heat generated from the imaging module 50 (imaging device 20 and IC circuit 24) is distributed to the entire module (entirely inside the metal frame 26) by the isotropic high thermal conductive resin 40, and then indicated by an arrow. In this way, heat is transferred to the metallic cylindrical body 30 at the outer peripheral portion by the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 and is dissipated here.

  In addition, the metal frame 26 and the metal cylindrical body 30 are electrically connected by an anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 having conductivity, so that noise can be suppressed.

[Method for manufacturing electronic endoscope]
Next, a method for manufacturing the electronic endoscope 100 according to the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a high aspect ratio shape filler (fiber filler) and an adhesive are taken in a small amount of container and stirred with a planetary stirrer. Thereby, the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 in which the filler is oriented in a certain direction is generated.

  On the other hand, the metal frame 26 is attached to the imaging module 50, and the inside is filled with the isotropic high thermal conductive resin 40. Since the metal frame 26 has a narrow space, it is difficult to fill the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 without breaking its orientation, but in the case of the isotropic high thermal conductive resin 40, the orientation is considered. Since it is not necessary to fill, it can be filled.

  Subsequently, the anisotropic high heat conductive resin 42 is scooped out from the container with a spatula or the like, and the anisotropic high heat conductive resin is mounted around the imaging module 50 to which the metal frame 26 is attached and filled with the isotropic high heat conductive resin 40. 42 is applied.

  At this time, in the process of scooping up the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 with a spatula and applying it around the imaging module 50, the orientation of the filler should not be disturbed, and the orientation direction of the filler is taken into consideration as described above. It is applied so that heat conduction is easy in the outer circumference direction of the endoscope (so that heat conduction is difficult in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope).

  Thereafter, the imaging module 50 coated with the anisotropic high thermal conductive resin 42 as described above is inserted into the distal end portion of the endoscope. It should be noted that the anisotropic high heat conductive resin 42 is sufficiently applied around the imaging module 50 so that a space not filled with the anisotropic high heat conductive resin 42 does not occur at the distal end portion of the endoscope.

[Others]
In this embodiment, the isotropic high heat conductive resin 40 and the anisotropic high heat conductive resin 42 are used to dissipate heat to the outer peripheral portion of the endoscope. However, only the anisotropic high heat conductive resin 42 is used. You may make it do.

  Moreover, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Lens barrel, 13 ... Prism, 14 ... Illumination window, 16 ... Water supply pipe, 18 ... Forceps pipe, 20 ... Image sensor, 22 ... Circuit board, 24 ... Integrated circuit (IC circuit), 26 ... Metal frame, 28 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Cable, 30 ... Metal cylindrical body, 32 ... Outer skin, 40 ... Isotropic high heat conductive resin, 42 ... Anisotropic high heat conductive resin, 50 ... Imaging module, 100 ... Electronic endoscope, 120 ... Insertion part, 126 ... tip

Claims (9)

In an electronic endoscope having a space for installing an imaging module at the tip,
An electronic endoscope in which a space around the imaging module is filled with an anisotropic high thermal conductive material having a higher thermal conductivity in the direction of the outer periphery of the endoscope than in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.   The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an isotropic high thermal conductive material is filled in a metal frame that surrounds an imaging element that constitutes the imaging module.   The electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a circuit board on which an integrated circuit for driving the imaging device is mounted is accommodated in the metal frame. The anisotropic high thermal conductive material is filled in an internal space between the metal frame and a metal cylindrical body at the outer periphery of the endoscope,
The heat generated in the imaging module is transmitted to the entire metal frame by the isotropic high heat conductive material, and is transmitted from the metal frame to the metal cylindrical body through the anisotropic high heat conductive material. The electronic endoscope according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the above-mentioned.   The isotropic high thermal conductive material is an isotropic high thermal conductive material having insulation, and the anisotropic high thermal conductive material is an anisotropic high thermal conductive material having conductivity. The electronic endoscope according to any one of 2 to 4.   The anisotropic high thermal conductive material is an anisotropic high thermal conductive resin in which a high aspect ratio shape filler is aligned in an adhesive and has a thermal conductivity of 7 W / mK or more in the alignment direction. The electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The isotropic high thermal conductive material is an isotropic high thermal conductive resin in which low aspect ratio shape fillers are randomly mixed in an adhesive, and has a thermal conductivity of 3 W / mK or less and an insulation resistance of 10 ¹² Ω · m. The electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the electronic endoscope is as described above. In the manufacturing method of the electronic endoscope which manufactures the electronic endoscope in any one of Claim 1 to 7,
A production process for producing an anisotropic high thermal conductive material obtained by stirring the adhesive and the high aspect ratio shape filler with a stirring device and orienting the high aspect ratio shape filler in a certain direction;
The imaging module and the metallic cylindrical shape of the generated anisotropic high thermal conductive material so that the orientation direction of the high aspect ratio shape filler matches at least an in-plane direction orthogonal to the endoscope longitudinal direction. A filling step for filling the internal space between the body,
The manufacturing method of the electronic endoscope characterized by including.   The filling step includes a step of applying the generated anisotropic high thermal conductive material around the imaging module so as not to destroy the orientation of the high aspect ratio shape filler, and the anisotropic high thermal conductive material is applied. The method of manufacturing an electronic endoscope according to claim 8, further comprising a step of inserting the obtained imaging module into a metal cylindrical body at the distal end portion of the endoscope.

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